We are just one day away from RMNB Party 5: Skate or Die!  Go check out our original post or our Facebook event.

Thanks to some well timed henriquing, there will in fact be a game to watch on Saturday night, and there is a decent chance we’ll even be together to watch somebody hoist the Stanley Cup. Not gonna lie: I will get emotional.

The game is supposed to start at 8, but who knows what kind of nonsensical padding and human interest story fluff NBC will air beforehand. If Costas shows up, you know it’s gonna be bad.

Seriously: you’re coming, right?

Frankly we’re quite relieved that there will actually be hockey on Saturday. Our contingency plan involved a series of Oxford style debates on the following topics: For whom should the Capitals inevitably trade Alex Ovechkin? When the Capitals acquire Zach Parise in July, should he serve on the penalty kill? Should Rick Nash get the A when he is definitely signed to the Caps? and Alex Semin: is he enigma, a puzzle, or just a dude who doesn’t speak English? Thank goodness we don’t have to do that. Anyone caught discussing the above will be flogged.

Before the party, we’ll be skating at KCI– right across the street from Front Page. The public skate is from 6-7. It’s first-come, first-serve, and if you act like a goon we’ll disavow you and tell everyone you’re from Japers Rink or something. KCI’s rules for the public skate are at the bottom of this post.

(By the way: don’t worry about missing the horse race. I’ll Have Another is scratched. Poor baby, but don’t feel too bad: he’s got a lifetime of horse love-making to look forward to.)

Back to the party: Front Page is kind enough to offer $2 Bud Light drafts on special. If you’re doing the public skate, you can take your skate pass (and a front-facing photo ID) to the Sports Page deli at KCI for a free beer before coming over.

Ian's outfit

Obviously, our team’s season is over, so please don’t feel obligated to wear your Caps red. In truth, a Russian Machine t-shirt may make you our instant BFF, but please feel free to dress however you like. For example, Ian will be wearing crocs, zubaz, and a Devils jersey from the mid-90s.

If you’re making any social media noise about the party, the hashtag we are futilely asking you to use is #RMNBParty5.

Here are those lightly paraphrased guidelines from KCI that I promised you above. You can read the whole public session tips PDF here.

• The rink is chilly—don’t forget your sweatshirt or coat. Helmets are recommended for young skaters. Gloves are encouraged. Wear long pants and socks that come above the ankle.
• All public sessions are subject to a capacity limit. Passes are sold beginning 30 minutes before the session starts. Winter weekends are very busy; please plan accordingly.
• All ages and ability levels are welcome on public sessions.
• Please skate with the flow of traffic.
• Skates must be worn on the ice for public session. No shoes on the ice!
• Both hockey and figure skates are available for rent.
• No cameras, cell phones, or headphones on the ice.
• Please do not skate through the center of the rink. The center of the ice is for private skating lessons and for skaters to work on maneuvers.
• No cones, buckets, or walkers are allowed on the ice to assist skaters. These create a danger for other skaters.
• No hockey sticks or pucks permitted on public sessions. KYLE. 
• Lockers are available for $.50. KCI is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Consider leaving extraneous items at home or in the car.

Finally, here’s the new song from Silversun Pickups, who are kinda/sorta from L.A.

Illustration by Ian Oland.

It’s only been the offseason for a couple weeks, and we already miss you guys. So we had a thought: why don’t we all get together, share some laughs, and watch maybe the last hockey game  of the year?

So. Saturday, June 9, 7 PM. Come to Front Page VA to watch Game Five* of the Stanley Cup Finals with us. Front Page will have some TVs tuned to the game, specials for the hungry and thirsty among us, and a small army of service staff waiting at your beck and call.

If you’re up for some fun before the game, we’ll be crashing the public skate at Kettler Capitals Iceplex from 6 PM to 7 PM. Seeing as I haven’t laced up skates in almost a decade, that should be sufficiently mortifying. Here are tips and guidelines for public skate at KCI (PDF).

Go check out the Facebook Event. Invite your friends!

The party will be laid-back affair, as befitting the summertime vibe. Everyone is welcome. Ample parking is available at the Ballston Mall. The party hashtag is #RMNBParty5.

So… will we see you there?

The public skate will be exactly nothing like this:

* NOTE: Yeah, if the Kings sweep the Devils (or the other way around… ha yeah right) there won’t be any hockey to watch at the party, but get real.

Ovi happy, Alzner sad. Pic’s blurry, but yet so very, very perfect. (Photo credit: Tarik El-Bashir)

Karl Alzner has been hating on everything Russian over the past week. First, he gave us low marks on RMNB’s “Caps Fans and Bad Habits” post. More recently, he bet against Team Russia in the WJC and the only Caps prospect in the tournament, Evgeny Kuznetsov. Why? So he could show allegiance to his Canadian homeland. Deplorable.

And that’s why the humility train made a quick stop at Kettler Capitals IcePlex. Alzner had to wear an ugly Russia jersey from the pits of Alex Ovechkin’s closet. Alzner wore the unsightly thing all practice long and described it as “the worst morning of my life.”

Neener, neener.

UPDATE 1:55PM: Alzner takes to the twitters to discuss his morning.

I think “Fml” means “favorite meal (for) lunch.” Not 100% on that.

Video

John Carlson takes a shot on Cale Chimera. (Photo credit: @slw357)

Lots of  stories unfolded today at Kettler Capitals Iceplex (MG52 may return on Tuesday, Alex Semin’s has a Schrodinger-y arm laceration), but there were none more awesome than Cale Chimera taking the ice.

Who’s Cale Chimera, you ask? A Hershey Bear call-up? The Caps traded Alex Semin, and he’s the new guy? No, he’s the four-year old son of the Caps’ second-leading goal scorer, Jason Chimera. You may remember him from last year, starring in almost every shot of our “Caps go bowling” charity post.

After Capitals practice ended today, Papa Chimera helped his son suit up in the locker room — mini gloves, breezers, skates, and all — and then took him onto the ice. Joined by John Carlson and Mathieu Perreault, the group playfully took shots on net. Cale, who skates better than DJ King, played goaltender for a bit and then the guys gave him his chance to take shots on them.

CSN’s Jill Sorenson, who we’ve teased all year, was actually the only beat writer to get the humangous big scoop.

I asked what position Cale wanted to play and Jason said, “What position do you want to play? Forward or Defense? Not goalie.” To which Cale responded, “I want to shoot the puck. I’ve been practicing a lot.”

Dawwww.

RMNB readers @slw357 and Madison T., who both were at practice today, were nice enough to share with us their photos and video. Check ‘em out below.

Photos and Video of Cale Chimera Practicing

Cale shoots… and falls! (Video via @slw357)

Hopefully Dale Hunter doesn’t see this or Perry will never play again. (Video via @slw357)

Cale takes a shot Perreault. (Photo credit: @slw357)

And scores! (Photo credit: @slw357)

Carlson takes a shot and Cale makes the save! (Photo credit: @slw357)

The guys horse around on the ice. (Photo credit: Madison T.)

So cute. (Photo credit: Madison T.)

Craig Brownstein of PuckBuddys writes for Russian Machine Never Breaks.

Just before hitting the ice, Joe Bowser of the Warrior team was asked what their strategy was to beat the Congressional squad, “Just show up,” he joked. He later added, “And we promise to pay our taxes on time.”

Rep. Quigley of the Congressional Team waits for another shift. (Photo credit: Craig Brownstein)

The big man for the Warriors talked a big game, but at the end of the night, the Lawmakers came out on top, 6-3. Taking an early lead in the first period, the Hill team held off the Warriors, a squad comprised of active duty members, reservists and vets, many of them skating with artificial limbs. “We’ll put our best foot forward,” Bowser said before the game, aware of the obvious pun.

The rain didn’t do much to dampen attendance at Kettler last night and the stands held a raucous crowd, primarily Warriors boosters. But it was the Obama address to the Joint Session of Congress that kept a number of elected officials away. But as per usual in this town, the hard work (and scoring) was done by the staff. Rep. Mike Quigley was the sole elected official to play last night. We thanked him for the time he gave us earlier this week when we previewed the game. Just before taking the ice, and maybe a bit torqued on how we characterized him, Quigley looked at us and said, “Pugnacious?” Mustering every bit of confidence that 15 years at C-SPAN will give a guy, we looked him square in the eye and replied, “What – did we spell it wrong?”

Some brass from the NHL also were on hand – Rob Wooley, Manager of Cause Marketing and Ken Martin, VP of Community Affairs and Diversity Programming, came in from New York for the game. They were fresh off a successful event in Chicago on Wednesday that saw some Blackhawk players join Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Quigley at a GLBT center for a floor hockey clinic, part of the League’s ‘Hockey is for Everyone’ initiative. Wooley and Martin will be up on the Hill Friday meeting with members of the Congressional Hockey Caucus, to talk about some future events.

Like elsewhere in the region, yesterday’s downpour played havoc with the power at Kettler. Just before game time, the lights flickered then went out. The generators kicked in quickly and the players took to the ice for warm ups.

Mike Knuble talks to the media before the game. (Photo credit: Craig Brownstein)

The ceremonial puck drop was handled by Caps star Mike Knuble. We caught up with him before the game to get his opinion on the teams. “The Warriors looked to be in better shape,” he said. Knoobs went on to talk about the Warrior spirit. “They’ve done so much for the country. They play competitively and rally around each other. Injuries don’t stop them; they play through the pain. Knuble, who has a collection of signed hockey sticks at home, brought an old wooden one (circa 1970’s) with him to the game and had the entire warrior team sign it. And since it was a presidential evening, we asked Mike what he would say to Obama that might convince him to attend a Caps game. “We’re the best ticket in town. It’s a no brainer – come see us play. It’s an exciting building and a good house. Ted will give him a good seat.”

After a hard-fought 45 minutes, the players posed for a group photo and then filed off the ice. Mike Vaccaro of the Warriors shared some of the chirping from the bench. A staffer-player got a text from the House chamber saying “Obama fired Quigley.” If that’s the sort of joking that goes on in the House cloakroom (or House gym), is it any wonder that this guy is so pugnacious?

The Warriors have a full season ahead, playing college other armed services teams. They’ve got a new coach and also face frequent personel changes as players go in and out of therapy, transition from active duty, and change units. It was an honor being able to watch them play and we hope we get another chance to see them on the ice in the future.

Also, check out: Warriors: “Hockey Was a Life-saver For Me” and Rep. Quigley Will Give Wounded Warriors a Good, Hard Game.

Doug Johnson of PuckBuddys writes for Russian Machine Never Breaks.

“It’s tough, it’s fast, and you better be highly skilled,” says the Chicago pol bluntly. “Believe me, I’ve got my share of bruises and stitches over the years. There’s a brutal beauty to it.”

Rep. Quigley during last year's Warriors game.

You could be forgiven for thinking the not-quite-second term Democrat and former Cook County Commissioner was talking about politics– Chicago-style or otherwise. But he’s talking about his other hard-knocks passion: hockey.

Stocky and pugnacious, Rep. Quigley looks and talks like a guy who’s been around the rink a few million times. He should. “I’ve been playing since I was eight years old, skating around on old frozen lagoons,” he says. “Twenty degrees below zero, all of that. And I never stopped. I played every chance I could get.”

Quigley loves everything about hockey. Watching it: “Sitting at the old Chicago Stadium – 3rd row, 2nd box behind the blue line– man, that place just shook. Never shoulda torn it down.” Playing it: “My favorite play out there is setting up a bang-bang play, you know, a real good-looking goal.” Even tweaking his opponents about it: “When I was Cook County commissioner, I passed this resolution, right before the Winter Classic between Detroit and the Blackhawks. All the whereas’s and here-to-for’s … but if you read every red capitalized letter, it spells out “DETROIT SUCKS.” (We checked it out. He really did.)

Before we can point out the actual winner of that game, he moves on to his latest mission: spreading hockey far and wide. Rep. Quigley is a member of the Congressional Hockey Caucus, a player on the congressional team, and a huge booster of the USA Warrior Ice Hockey program.

The NHL may be getting PR mileage out of its “Hockey is for Everyone” slogan, but for Quigley it’s not just a toss-off. In fact, he’s probably stretching it beyond where the NHL big boys even intended.

For example, on Tuesday– before boarding a plane back to the circus that is DC these days– he, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and the cuss-tastic Mayor Rahm Emanuel held a youth hockey clinic for disadvantaged youth at Chicago’s Center on Halsted. Mere political stunt? Maybe not, once you consider that the Center is perhaps the nation’s premier gay/lesbian community center. Among their many programs is one that provides care to LGBT youth who’ve been tossed out of their homes for being gay. Consider also that when he, the mayor, and the cameras split, the kids were left with more than a handshake. Quigley and the Blackhawks donated field hockey gear for the kids’ permanent use.

Glad-handing TV photo-op with Niklas Hjalmarsson for constituents? Political stunt. Donating field hockey equipment to disadvantaged LGBT kids so they can have a shot at normalcy? Priceless.

This Thursday, Rep. Quigley was scheduled to hit the ice and play against the Wounded Warriors. “These guys want a good, hard game. I want to give them one, just like anyone else.”

Of course, that was before the White House and Speaker Boehner’s office started their slap-fight about when the President could please, pretty please, come speak before Congress. With the Warrior game set for 7pm, the same time as Obama’s speech, members like Quigley who planned on suiting up are in a jam.

Rep. Quigley (middle) drops the puck for Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-8) and Sean Joyce (left) in preparation for the 2011 Winter Classic during Hockey Day on the Hill.

Still, there’s no debate about his desire to see that anyone who wants to get out on the ice actually has that opportunity– disadvantaged LGBT youth, wounded combat veterans, or anyone else. He’s filled with stories of what other people tell him the game means to them, and easily falls into another. “There was an event with the Caps and USA Hockey and the Wounded Warriors. I met these guys, got out on the ice with them. When I was there I met a guy, a veteran, who was told he could keep his leg, but it wouldn’t be much use. He’d certainly never play hockey again.”

As happens in stories like this, the doctors were wrong. Turns out it’s pretty damn hard to keep a guy (or gal) off the ice who loves the game. “I ask him ‘Why do you do this?’” Quigley says. “The guy says ‘I can’t help it. I get in the rink and I smell the ice, and I just gotta get out there.” Before you can ask about that guy or those games or this cause, the fast-talking Quigley jumps into another story. “I’m reminded about Arthur Ashe. He didn’t want tennis to just be a country-club activity, but he knew that meant you had to give people access– a place to play, just the basics. It’s like that with hockey. I want to make sure that anyone who wants to get out on the ice has that opportunity.”

Few would question that if you want to succeed in hockey, or in politics, you’ve got to be tough, competitive, a little lucky, and just plain better than the next guy. That’s the kind of thing he wants people to learn from the sport: how to compete, how to play as a team, and most importantly, how to believe in yourself– despite anything that others may see as a ‘disability.’

Rep. Quigley’s cell phone is fading out– he’s working his district hard. That’s what a brawling Chicago pol does. But before it fades completely, he offers one last story. “There was this guy, maybe in his 70′s, I used to see all the time at Blackhawks games. He was blind and used to have this little radio up against his ear, listening to the call. You could see it was real hard for him to hear it. One day I start talking to him and I ask if it’s worth it– he can’t see the game at all. He says ‘I don’t have to see it. I can feel it.’”

We know nothing about his politics. But it’s clear to us that Mike Quigley feels hockey way down deep.

The USA Warriors Hockey game will take place at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Thursday, September 8 at 7 PM.  Tickets are available at the door. RSVP on Facebook.

Doug Johnson of PuckBuddys writes for Russian Machine Never Breaks.

Retired Army Staff Sgt. Drew Hill doesn’t sound like a guy whose life needed saving. He’s confident and friendly, with that ingrained Army habit of calling you “Sir,” and he loves talking about hockey. “Chippy,” it turns out, is one of his favorite descriptions for just about everything.

The Warriors pose for a photo after a recent game.

We spoke recently just as he stepped off the ice after practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. He was tired — “Sorry about being winded, Sir,” he said — but eager to talk about his team of military pals who don skates as often as they can. Whether they have all their limbs or not. After all, they have a big game coming up.

Hill is a member of USA Warriors Ice Hockey, a project of USA Hockey and the NHL, that gets wounded American combat veterans out on the ice, playing hockey, no matter if they’ve ever played before or not.

Hill was one of those who had. “I played off and on through high school and up from there,” he told me. “But when I got into the Army I had to back it off a bit. Then I got hurt in Afghanistan in 2006; I picked it back up. Hockey was a life-saver for me.”

In fighting, Hill’s right ankle was essentially shattered and had to be completely rebuilt. “I’ve got titanium and all kinds of metal down there,” he said. His rehabilitation was long and, as they often are, difficult. “Physical therapy was great, but it just wasn’t aggressive enough. I was still walking with a cane. Well, I strapped on a pair of skates and started skating around, and the therapy I got from being on the ice basically got me working my right leg again.”

Hill’s story is a familiar one to anyone who plays with, or knows of , Warriors Ice Hockey. Composed of wounded vets from Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s part exercise, part amateur league, and part therapy. And this Thursday at 7pm, the puck will drop at Kettler on a big game — the Wounded Warriors vs. the Congressional hockey team.

In this era of unending war, it’s still odd to see vets showing signs of battle. Other than the obligatory standing ovation at a Caps game for a minute or so, members of the military — especially the wounded — can seem separate. Segregated, perhaps, by a country that values their work, but has fraying connection to armed service.

But when the Warriors play, nothing is separate. Every player is on the ice — but only some of the scars are visible.

The players, says team goalie Mike Vaccaro, come in with “the complete range” of injuries. “Double amputees, missing eyes, it’s everything.”

Vaccaro grew up in Buffalo, something of a two-horse town when it comes to sports. “In Buffalo, you either play football or hockey. We went down the hockey road,” he said, as his father worked for the Buffalo Sabres.

“You have to know your unit, you have to know where everyone is, you have to gel. It’s the same with hockey, it’s the same with life.” - Mike Vaccaro

A civilian employee of the Army Corps of Engineers and a Staff Sgt. with the U.S. Army Reserves, Vaccaro is also currently the coach of the Maryland Sabres, a club which sports teams of Mites, Squirts, Bantams, and any other young ones who want to play. And it turns out, among those who most want to play is Vaccaro.

“After I came back from Iraq in 2006 I was wounded,” he said. “I heard about USA Warrior Hockey and wanted to get involved. I’ve been with it ever since.”

Vaccaro was fortunate — relatively. He took shrapnel to the face, had some damage to his teeth and jaw. Five years on, he’s pretty much healed: people often assume he was never wounded.

But Vaccaro needed something more, so he got involved with the Warriors. Like Hill, when Vaccaro talks about hockey, it’s in near-equal measures of competition and therapy. “Being in the military, they teach you teamwork,” he said. “You have to know your unit, you have to know where everyone is, you have to gel. It’s the same with hockey, it’s the same with life. To me, taking these wounded soldiers and sailors and Marines who’ve never played hockey, and they’re thinking ‘well, I can’t play hockey because of my injuries,’ and making them take that next step — watching them out on the ice, watching their faces, you can see they’re only thinking about hockey. All their wounds, all their financial problems, whatever they have, all that is gone. We’re on the ice, we’re having fun. Just to give them the chance to do that for an hour — it’s worth it.”

The current Army recruiting slogan calls it “Army Strong”: you don’t quit, you don’t ask if you can do something, you just do it. That training, says Vaccaro, is exactly what helps wounded vets struggling with their physical and emotional challenges find the courage to do something as seemingly nuts as strapping on skates and hitting the ice.

“I had some issues when I came back, and hockey has been my therapy,” he said. “Helping these guys, they don’t realize it, but they’re helping me. So it’s a big circle.”

Sgt. Hill has seen it in his own life, and in others. “My good buddy Matt — he was one of those guys stuck in his room, didn’t want to get out. And I am beyond persistent. I was knocking on his door, had tickets, whatever to get him out skating.” One day Matt came to Drew and said: “Drew, if you hadn’t done that and got me out there skating, I’d be dead today. Thank you.”

“I'd rather play with these guys than anyone else in the world.” - Retired Army Staff Sgt. Drew Hill

This Thursday’s game is a fundraiser for the group, but it’s also a chance for some pretty competitive guys to take a shot at winning a game. In the past the Warriors have played a variety of teams, some of them pretty good — undoubtedly better than the Congressional team. And woe be unto the opponent who figures to ‘go easy’ on the Warriors. It doesn’t take long to figure out that this is a group of guys who want to play hard.

“I’d rather play with these guys than anyone else in the world,” said Hill, a natural center who plays a variety of spots during a game. “I’m on the ice and I look over to my left and one of my really good friends Mark Little will be there — he’s missing both his limbs below the knee. And at my other side, I’ve got a right leg amputee. And I’m out there and they are the most hilarious guys I’ve ever seen in my life. You know, guys are out there, they get a little chippy and smack ‘em on the leg, and they just go ‘What, you think that hurts me? It’s gone.’ It’s just hilarious to see them get out there.”

What’s not been at all hilarious — except, perhaps for the scamps at Wonkette — is the small-minded bickering that pushed President Obama’s address to 7pm Thursday evening, the same time as the Warriors – Congressional match-up. For several days confusion reigned (just as it everywhere else in Washington it seems) about whether the game would happen. Late last week the Warriors decided: they’re too far into this, and they will hit the ice for puck drop at 7. What the members of the Congressional team do is still murky. But if bets had to be placed, you’d get good odds that staffers will replace those members who feel they need to attend the President’s address — and there will be a game.

“A good game,” expects Vaccaro. Hill agrees. “We want to win, so we’ll go a little aggressive,” he said. We heard that these Hill guys are a bit chippy, so we want to see what they’re made of. But you’ve got a bunch of war vets out there, so we’re gonna give them a good fight, but of course enjoy ourselves.”

If you want stale, pie-fight politics, tune in C-SPAN Thursday night. But if you want to see some great hockey, played by an amazing team who’ve earned the title “Warriors” make a date for Kettler.

The USA Warriors Hockey game will take place at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Thursday, September 8 at 7 PM.  Tickets are available at the door. RSVP on Facebook.

Craig Brownstein of PuckBuddys writes for Russian Machine Never Breaks.

Next Thursday evening, September 8, was going to find the PuckBuddys at Kettler (on assignment for RMNB!) covering the game between the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Team and the Lawmakers, made up of members of Congress and their staff.

We’ve been doing interviews this week with the Warriors’ coach and players, only to find out this morning that there may be a scheduling complication.

It seems nothing is easy in Washington anymore. The tiff between President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner that pushed the President’s Joint Session address on jobs to Thursday evening may affect the charity game. We’ll stay in contact with the Warrior front office and share developments as soon as we learn more.

The Warriors are an amazing group of guys, and we look forward to sharing their remarkable stories. The congressional team? Meh. You know who we’re rooting for.

William scores on an out of position Semyon Varlamov. (Photo credit: Chris Gordon)

It was an ordinary day at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Caps players took part in an optional practice, one of the countless and rather mundane skates they will participate in this season. That was, of course, until William Shannon joined in.

William is five years old and suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His dream is to play for the Washington Capitals. For a few hours at least that dream was realized thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Mid-Atlantic chapter.

With the players wrapping up their on-ice workout, William took the ice, clad in the sweater of his favorite player, Alex Ovechkin, and Ovi’s signature yellow laces. He has been playing hockey since 2009, but had to stop late that year because of side-effects from his treatment. That didn’t keep him out of the rink for long, however, and in February of last year he was back, feeling so weak he had to use a walker, but nonetheless on the ice.

“This is phenomenal. This is every kid’s wish,” William’s mom Sandra told me. “For William, it’s even bigger. Hockey is what has gotten him through. Our hard days, our tough days, we are watching hockey. On our better days he’s playing hockey … To actually be strong enough, to be confidant enough, to be good enough of a skater to hold his own in a way with these players out here, you know, it’s joyful. It’s hope. It’s saying, ‘you’ve got a lifetime’.”

William’s day at Kettler began with a meeting with the Great Eight, who presented him with one of his signed sticks. William was then taken to the Capitals dressing room where, to his amazement, a personalized locker was set up for him, his skates hung up and all.

Bruce Boudreau broke the news. William would get skate with the Caps.

“His eyes just lit up,” Mrs. Shannon said. “He was so excited.”

After competing against Jason Chimera, Mike Green and D.J. King for a while, William got a special treat. Taking to the net to face him was none other than Semyon Varlamov. A shootout drill followed. Varlamov remained strong in his crease early on, but after Varly got a little too aggressive William starting racking up the goals to the delight of the crowd at the practice facility, who cheered and banged on the glass.

“He played hard out there,” said Mrs. Shannon. “He played as hard as he could. We saw the best of William on the ice.”

Green, one of the best defenseman in the sport, agreed.

“He’s a good little player,” he said. “We were giving it to him a little bit. I think I slashed him once. D.J. hit him. We were roughing him up a bit. He handled himself well out there.”

William and his family, who hail from Shepherdstown, West Virginia, will get to join some of the same fans who cheered for them on Friday when they attend the Capitals match-up with the Buffalo Sabres Saturday evening. William, his sister Emily, mother and father Devin will sit in seats purchased by Ovechkin as part of “Ovi’s Crazy Eights.” After the game, William will be presented with Alexander Semin’s game jersey, right off the back of Sasha Minor himself.

“It’s just been an amazing experience and it’s one that he and his entire family will have for the rest of their lives,” said Allyson Butler of Mid-Atlantic Make-A-Wish. “We try to make every wish its own and go beyond the child’s imagination. That’s the beauty in what we do.”

As he left the ice, Capitals General Manager George McPhee quipped that he would like to speak with William, possibly to negotiate a contract with the young forward.

Just before he stepped into the Capitals dressing room, a familiar face greeted Will at the door. “I saw you on TV,” William said to CSN Washington’s Joe Beninati. Joe B. preceded to announce the play-by-play for William’s game-winning goal for the Capitals, something that no one is saying won’t happen again in the future.

“He’s determined he’s going to be a Cap,” Mrs. Shannon said. “One day he’s going to be a Cap himself. And I wouldn’t put it past him.”

(All photos by Chris Gordon — Click to enlarge)

Chimera and King react after Green accidentally trips William.

Varly pretends to break his stick after allowing a soft goal to William. Pro tip: your legs, not back, go on the ice.

On the day that Semyon Varlamov’s bobblehead was given away to blood donors at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, Braden Holtby would not be outdone on the awesome meter. After Benoit Pouliot dumped the puck in after the referees’ whistled the Habs for being off-side, the sassy 21 year-old ‘keeper kicked the puck into the air, caught it with the blade of his stick before flipping it into his glove. Another great Holtbyism? You bet!